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Creep feeding plays an important role in the life cycle of pigs. The practice introduces piglets to a solid diet while they are still suckling, and in doing so, helps them get off to a much better start. Beginning during the piglets first few weeks of life, solid feed promotes gut and digestive enzyme development.…

During the summer months when high temperatures and humidity combine, keeping your livestock cool and comfortable is an absolute necessity. How to keep animals cool in hot weather should be a priority. Otherwise, many can succumb to heat related stress, exhaustion, stroke—and unfortunately, death. Enclosed spaces without proper ventilation will result in serious problems for…

In the last couple decades, lean growth and feed efficiency have dramatically improved average pig weight for market. Productivity of the average pig farmer has increased, with pigs per litter and average market hog weights both increasing. A sure sign that a farrow-to-finish operation is successful is that pigs remain profitable at heavier market weights.

Hog farmers know a pig’s environment is one of the key components to produce optimal conditions for pig production. The importance of swine health as it relates to pig body temperature range should not be underestimated. Pigs are a highly adaptable animal and can perform well within a range of temperatures known as the thermoneutral…

Feed efficiency, i.e., how well pigs can convert feed into growth, is determined by the right pig feeder trough design, and is one of the most important factors that influence pig production. Feed costs for commercial pig operations can account for up to two-thirds of the cost of production. In addition, recent research has shown…